For many kids, Walt Disney World is a far-away place where magic exists and dreams come true. Years later, on the brink of adulthood, some college students are realizing their dreams in a program designed to re-awaken their imaginations.
The Disney College Program is like a paid vacation to Orlando, Fla., where college students work 30 hours per week at minimum wage jobs in one of the four resorts and get free access to all the rides they can handle.
Students are provided with a fully furnished apartment, where reasonably-priced rent is taken out of one's paycheck. Additionally, transportation is provided to the park as well as other key locations in the area, like grocery stores and malls.
"Every intern always wishes they could go back or stay longer," said Judith Applebaum, associate director of Career Services.
Internships take place during the Spring and Fall semesters, but those who just can't get enough of Mickey can choose the Spring or Fall Advantage program, which includes an additional summer spent working at the resorts.
Jobs are entry-level positions like food service, merchandise, information booths and working the rides. Students indicate on the application which positions or "roles" they would be willing to fill. Those who return for a second internship are given more professional roles in human resources, labor operations, or even biology and animal sciences, teaching guests about creatures in the Animal Kingdom.
In order to apply, students are asked to watch the informational presentation, which is done by Disney representatives, some of whom are students from UB. A video presentation is available at the program's Web site.
Students in the program can expect to learn "transferable skills" such as effective communication, time management, leadership and teamwork abilities, and personal empowerment, said Rebecca Loney, a Disney College Program recruiter. These skills will carry students to success in the professional world.
"The training was extremely extensive," said Erin Malecki, a senior communications major who worked as a lifeguard at one of the resort's hotels. "They mold you into a Disney cast member. They have an image to protect, and if you don't uphold that, you get fired."
A Disney cast member is a graduate of Disney University, where all employees are taught the requirements of their job - from being punctual and presentable to more entertaining aspects like interacting with guests and suggesting the best rides to go on.
For those with a knack for entertainment, auditions are held for characters like Cinderella or Goofy who stroll around the parks and serve to have their picture taken with guests.
Debra Garrison, a senior art history major worked in merchandise in the Magic Kingdom, and had the pleasure of watching a parade go by each day at 3 p.m. She was also able to sit on the rooftop and watch the Disney fireworks show each night.
Employees weren't expected to stay behind the counter, and the merchandise was there to be played with, Garrison said. Plastic sword fights around the store with little kids wearing Mickey Mouse ears were typical occurrences.
"The job was always about making it magical for the guests, making them forget reality," Garrison said.
Garrison also enjoyed the fact that students weren't confined to working in one location of the resort all semester. Moving from place to place meant she got to meet more people and make more connections.
With 3,000 students from colleges across the United States participating in the Disney program each semester, it's impossible not to make new friends. Students come away with an open-mind about many different cultures after experiencing the diversity of guests and fellow workers in the park.
Disney promises that professional connections are obtainable for those who wish to network. Students have the opportunity to take free classes like communications, hospitality management, and learning how to market themselves. They also offer major specific programs like the Exploration Series, where those concentrating in management, for example, get a behind-the-scenes look at how the human resource department keeps the resorts running smoothly.
Michael Nasca, a junior environmental engineering major, took part in the Professional Development Studies in engineering, where over the course of eight weeks he met various Disney engineering professionals who explained their roles in the park, like designing and creating roller coasters, and transportation maintenance.
"I was able to get the business cards of about a half dozen professional engineers at Disney," Nasca said. "It gives me a leg up in the competition for jobs."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
